Choose the most appropriate meaning/phrasal verb/word/verb for the sentence.

The new CEO threw down the gauntlet in the first board meeting.

"Threw down the gauntlet" is an idiom that means to boldly challenge someone. Long ago, knights would throw their gauntlet (a heavy armored glove) on the ground to challenge another knight to a fight. Today, we use this phrase to mean someone is daring others or making a bold challenge.

So the answer is Option 2: Issued a challenge.

Let's confirm by checking the other options:

• Option 1: Quit his job → The idiom has nothing to do with quitting or resigning. Incorrect.
• Option 3: Dropped his files → This is a literal interpretation of "threw down," but the phrase is an idiom, not about physically dropping anything. Incorrect.
• Option 4: Apologized → This is the opposite of what the idiom means — it shows boldness and confrontation, not gentleness. Incorrect.

Option 2: Issued a challenge is correct. The new CEO challenged or confronted the board members in his very first meeting, showing he was bold and ready to take charge.

Example: "The student threw down the gauntlet by challenging the reigning champion to a spelling bee."